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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1994)
Policy generates comments From ttiff Rtporto UNL Chancellor Graham Spanier told the Academic Senate Tuesday that 22 comments about a proposed sexual harassment and discrimination policy have come to the Affirmative Action office so far. The Policy Statement on Sexual Harassment and Discrimination deals with issues ranging from sexual harassment to university relationships. Spanier said the comments have included small details that were easy to fix and large disagreements that will be harder to address. “The small stuff is easy,” he said. The issue bringing in the most comments are the sections on rela tionships with a power differen tial, Spanier said. A power differ ential relationship can be a profes sor/student or professor/adminis trator relationship. The proposed policy would require couples in volved to report their relationships to a supervisor. “There are very differing points of view,” he said. However, Spanier said, all the comments made about the policy could be accommodated. Spanier said five of the com ments were from organizations. He said a final policy should be ready next spring. In other business, senate mem bers were given a summary of the task force report dealing with engi neering education in Nebraska. Many senators were not present, and discussion on the report was sparse. Decision raises questions for engineering college By Julia Sobczyk Staff Reporter Engineering professors had mixed reactions to Tuesday’s news that Stan Liberty will step aside from his job as engineering dean. Liberty informed faculty of his departure Tuesday in a letter. For some professors, the news was not unexpected. Maher Tadros, an engineering pro fessor who teaches at the University ofNebraska at Omaha, said he thought Liberty was leaving because of the conditions of his job. “I think the situation of managing a college that is divided by 50 miles is a system that no one, no matter how good he is, can manage,” Tadros said. Roy Sneddon, an associate profes sor of civil engineering, said the change possibly was made as a solu tion to recent controversies about the engineering college. “I’m sad to see him go, but I’m not surprised,” Sneddon said. “Things have been hectic. Some solutions are to change the dean or the chair.” But Sneddon said the timing of Liberty’s departure would hurt the college. “I think it will further confuse the issue,” he said. “When things are hectic, it’s nice to have someone there you have confidence in.” William Kelly, a civil engineering professor, said the decision might be connected to the upcoming regents decision about creating a separate engineering college at Omaha. “Maybe they are connected some how,” he said. “Most people are as in the dark as I am.” But, he said, it was too soon to know the exact reasons. “It will become clearer in the next week or so,” he said. “Right now there are a lot of unanswered ques tions.” John Ballard, associate dean of the college, emphasized the departure wasn’t a resignation. Ballard said he did not know why Liberty was not reappointed, but he was surprised by the timing of the announcement. “There is enough uncertainty now,” Ballard said. “I have no idea what effect it will have. The faculty will be very upset and dismayed.” Liberty Continued from Page 1 NU administrators said Tuesday central administration was not in volved in the decision to remove Lib erty. Smith did not return telephone calls seeking comment Tuesday. Loudon said he thought UNL was sacrificing Liberty to prevent a sepa rate college from being formed in Omaha. Instead of getting a separate college, UNO would get more money, scholarships and expanded programs under the new dean, he said. “For Lincoln to win, the dean would have to go,” Loudon said. However, Liberty said the deci sion was not part of any deal he made to keep the state’s engineering col lege intact at Lincoln. Chancellor Graham Spanier said Liberty was not asked to continue as dean because it was time for new leadership in the engineering col lege. “In looking to the future, the con clusion was that it was an appropriate time to have a new dean to lead us into the new era,” Spanier said. “Sometimes a new dean can pro vide something an incumbent dean cannot,” he said. Pacifying Omaha interests didn’t figure into the decision, he said. “We don’t do business that way,” he said. “We would not be comfort able doing business that way.” Spanier credited Liberty on lead ing the college for more than 13 years. And Spanier insisted Liberty had done nothing wrong. “You shouldn’t draw the conclu sion someone wasn’t doing some thing right,” he said. Spanier said the decision not to renew Liberty’s contract was reached through a mutual understanding. Joan Leitzel, senior vice chancel lor for academic affairs, said she de tided not to recommend Liberty for another term after meeting with him recently for a five-year review. She said that her decision was not motivated by the engineering debate and that administrators were not forc ing Liberty out of his job. But she would not comment about what she based the decision on. NU Regent Rosemary Skrupa of Omaha said she wasn’t surprised by the announcement. “The fact that he made certain decisions probably led to him to be evaluated less than 100 percent posi tive,” she said. Skrupa said Liberty was an able administrator with integrity. How ever, he often ignored engineering needs at UNO. Leitzel said she would choose an interim dean before the first of the year. A committee to conduct the na tionwide search for a new dean will be formed after the NU Board of Regents decides this weekend whether to create a separate engineering col lege at Omaha. Leitzel said that decision would affect the number of UNO representa tives on the committee. If the regents create a separate college, UNO will need its own search committee to find a dean for its engineering college, she said. Spanicr declined to say whether an Omaha candidate was being con sidered for the dean's position. He also said he couldn't say whether the interim dean would come from the Lincoln or Omaha campus. After Liberty leaves his position, Leitzel said he would assist in the development of the Technology Park. > “That is moving quickly, and he has experience and expertise,” Leitzel said. Senior Editors Jeffrey Robb and Senior Reporter Matthew Waite contributed to this report. Investigation Continued from Page 1 Manslaughter charges, he said, might deter police officers from abus ing their power. “You assault a police officer, and you get time in jail,” he said. “Police assault people and they don’t get any thing when they are supposed to pro tect and serve the community.” Bartle said changing the charges was a question of Nebraska statute. “It has yet to be demonstrated to me that I have any such authority,” he said. County Attorney Gary Laccy said he didn’t think Battle could change the grand jury indictments unless the special prosecutor knew of evidence that wasn’t presented to the grand jury. Noreiga said respect for the His panic community was part of what prompted Intercultural Coalition members to write up the petition. “We can’t keep our eyes closed. This is just a wake-up for all of us Latinos to stand up and say enough is enough,” he said. Senior Editor Angie Uranium and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Veskrna Continued from Page 1 and now we’ve got a Latino com munity member dead,” Noriega said. He said Veskrna should be charged with at least third-degree assault. Noriega said he wanted the other officers involved in the inci dent also removed from their jobs. ‘‘If they try to cover this whole thing up, they don’t deserve to wear the badge they wear,” he said. Noriega said the petition still was in the planning stages, and no signatures had been collected. UNL Police Chief Ken Cauble, who had not heard about the peti tion on Tuesday night, said the coa lition had a right to file a petition. He said he would be willing to discuss the issue with any members of the Hispanic community. witfilLincoLis own Jassen Upodd •Wednesday, December 7,1994 •8:00 PM •$5.00 cover at the door or buy tickets in advance •Cash Bar. All ages are welcome. •A tribute to: Pop, rock, R&B Country, and Broadway. •Sponsored by Top of the Rock and Rock-n-Roll Runza on 14th & P. •For information, call 474*2030. experience ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOUR BOOKS?? The 'SO0X ‘S&CtfZS&S are a complete textbook exchange service. We match buyers with sellers. HERE'S HOW TO CUT YOUR BOOK COSTS: ’ Call NOW with a list of books you will have for sale at the end of the semester AND books you will need for next semester. • Buyers and sellers are being matched this week Don't let this happen to you! • Np cost or obligation for listing your books CALL NOW AND SA VE '! 438-SAVE (7283) • The &CCK allow you to sell your used books for more and buy the books you need for less. I STUDENT TICKET HOLDERS You are invited to join Coach Danny Nee, the men's basketball team and the Spirit Squad as they show you their appreciation for your excellent participation last season. This year we hope to expand the group that so successfully helped the team win the final home games last season. This group, nicknamed the "cornSTALKERS" needs all Of your help. Prior to the Creighton game, membership cards and t-shirts will be handed out to the first 1,000 students who want to be a STALKER. As a STALKER, you will also be eligible to win all kinds of prizes during halftime of the games by participating in a basketball shoot ing contest and one lucky STALKER will win free tuition for the 1.995 fall semester. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7,4:30 P.M. BOB DEVANEY SPORTS CENTER Bring your ticket and enter through the lower level southeast door to get your seat for the Creighton Game and have dinner with Danny Nee. FREE T-SHIRT, HOT DOG & COKE FOR THE FIRST 1,000 STUDENT TICKET HOLDERS* THROUGH THE DOOR AT 4:30 PH *NU intercollegiate student athletes and validated student ticket holders not eligible to receive t-shirt, hot dog or Coke.
